Shell Artefacts from the Andaman Islands

Shell middens of varying sizes are ubiquitous in the Andaman Islands. They mark the locations of ancient encampments and can provide invaluable data on the dietary habits and cultural traditions of the Andamanese. In general, these sites are quite large, ranging up to 5 m in height and 36 m in diameter. They are rich in molluscan remains, fauna1 bones, coiled pottery, and in implements of stone, bone and shell. As raw material for tools and ornaments, shell constitutes one of the most important elements of the economy of the Andamanese. It is the aim of this paper to demonstrate the significance of molluscs in the cultural milieu of the Andamanese, with particular reference to the shell artefacts that were recovered in the course of excavating the midden at Chauldari (Cooper 1985).